7.5. SR 11-21-1994
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ITEM 7.5.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
TROY LANGER, PLANNING INTERN
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DATE:
NOVEMBER 21,1994
SUBJECT: CODE AMENDMENTS FOR
SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING
SECTION 900.30 PUBLIC HEARING
CASE NO. OA 94-05
REQUEST
Consider request by the City of Elk River to amend section 900.30 of the Elk
River City Code related to regulations on screening, landscaping, lighting,
storage, and outdoor displays.
ATTACHMENTS
. City Ordinance 900.30 with proposed amendments.
ANALYSIS
Staff is proposing several modifications to the standards relating to screening
and landscaping. The majority of the changes are to allow the developer to
have greater flexibility in the types of plant materials used for either
landscape or screening purposes. The proposed code would create three
classifications of plant materials: overstory trees, understory trees, and
coniferous trees. The current code already has these three classifications,
but they are not separated in their requirements for each classification.
These three classifications are being proposed to allow for a greater variety
in landscaping certain areas.
Some proposed changes are to implement recent performance conditions that
have been made part of conditional use permits, such as the proposed
ingroundlunderground irrigation system. Inversely, some proposed changes
would be considered less restrictive, such as reducing the maximum slope
from four (4) to one (1) down to three (3) to one (1).
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Two new sections are being added in the proposed ordinance. The first is to
add an "INTENT AND PURPOSE" section at the beginning of the ordinance.
This is an area that was lacking in the current ordinance. The intent and
P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 . Fax: (612) 441-7425
Landscape Amendment
November 21,1994
Page 2
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purpose explains the general reasoning for having the landscape ordinance.
The second section that is being proposed to be added is the "INTERIOR
PARKING". The ordinance currently does not have specific landscape
requirements for the parking areas. The proposed section will provide an
effective tool in creating a more visual appealing parking lot. Although the
parking ordinance provides for some screening requirements, staff is of the
opinion that additional landscape requirements would be beneficial in the
landscape ordinance. The "PRESERVATION OF WOODLAND AREAS"
section was added to help reduce the clear-cutting of woodland areas.
Other areas that include major revisions are the "Screening" section. New
language is being proposed to be added to provide better screening of
headlights, mechanical equipment, and other areas typically screened in
development. Language was also added to discuss what types of species of
plant materials should and should not be used to meet the landscape
requirements. Additional language was also added in the enforcement
section to allow the City the opportunity to work with property owners to
comply with the landscape requirements. A Performance Guarantee was
added in the "enforcement" section to help regulate landscape requirements.
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The last three sections which include "LIGHTING", "ARCHITECTURAL
STANDARDS", and "STORAGE AND DISPLAY" are being proposed to not
change any language. Because new sections have been added before these
sections, the section numbers for the above mentioned items are being
proposed to be amended. The format for the entire proposed landscape
ordinance may change when it is entered into the Zoning Ordinance to meet
current format standards. Staff anticipates a slight revision in the format
from the proposed amendments.
SUMMARY
These are the primary sections of the proposed ordinance amendments:
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. INTENT AND PURPOSE
. DEFINITIONS
. SCREENING
. GENERAL LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS
. MINIMUM LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS
. SPECIES OF PLANT MATERIAL
. PLACEMENT OF PLANT MATERIAL
. ENFORCEMENT
. PRESERVATION OF WOODLAND AREAS
. INTERIOR PARKING
s:planning:troy:pc-land2
Landscape Amendment
November 21, 1994
Page 3
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PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed changes for the landscape
ordinance on September 27 and October 25, 1994. After discussion on the
landscape ordinance, they recommended adding a "Clear Cutting" definition,
additional language in the "Screening" section, adding language in the
"Slope" area, allowing more credit for existing trees, and adding language in
the "Enforcement" section. The Planning Commission also recommended to
add a definition of "Double-Frontage Lots" to the ordinance. The Planning
Commission recommended approval to the City Council with a (5-0) vote.
RECOMMENDATION
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS TO
SECTION 900.30 (REGULATIONS ON SCREENING, LANDSCAPING,
LIGHTING, STORAGE AND OUTDOOR DISPLAY) AS OUTLINED IN
THE ATTACHMENT.
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s:planning:troy:pc-land2